Last weekend’s spike in crime

D.C. police reported a surge in carjackings and shootings that began Friday night and continued into the new week. The carjackings occurred in Police Districts 6 and 7, historically the city’s most violent precincts; the shootings were scattered across much of the city. Despite the recent outburst, violent crime is generally down this year compared with the same period last year. Homicides, however, are an exception. There have been at least 15 more homicides citywide this year than had been reported at this time last year. Related: Seven people shot in District overnight.